Newspaper Page Text
No. 51 -Vol. V.]
Christian Eloquence.
From the New York Spectator.
SPEECH OF THE REV. DR. GRIFFIN,
Delivered in the City of New York, on the 14th
of May, before the American Society for melio
rating the condition of the Jews.
Mr. President—ln rising to speak on this
occasion, I find myself on uew ground.
Hitherto, in pleading the cause of charity,
I have always stood in the court of the
GeDtiles —now I seem to be brought into
the inner temple. The shades of departed
ages rise before me, and I seem to stand in
the presence of Abraham, and Moses, and
David. lam powerfully reminded of what
we owe to a loog train of illustrious Jews,
for the Word of God, and for prayers which
have stood connected with our salvation,
and that of our parents and children. Who
hit Jews preserved and transmitted to us
the treasures of the Old Testament ? Who
but Jews first brought the gospel to our
Geotile ancestors? And of the Jews, “as
concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is
over all, God blessed forever.” All this
they have done, “and their debtors” we
“are; for if the. Gentiles have been made
partakers of their spiritual things, their du
ty is also to minister unto them in carnal
tbiogs.” 1 know they are stained with
their Saviour’s blood. I know that the
fearful imprecation of the judgement hall
cleaves to them. I know that they are the
children of those who killed the Lord of
the prophets, and will contemptuously spit
on the ground whenever his name is men
tioned. But it is not for us to avenge the
wrongs of Christ. It were better to lay our
hand on our months for what ice have done.
If io God they are still “ beloved for the fa
thers’ sakes,” they may well be to us.
But why single out the Jews, you say,
since the proper object of gospel charity is
men? Because God has singled them out.
Wby have they been kept distinct, by a
wooderful Providence, for so many ages,
but that they might one day become the
object of distinct attention to the Church?
What otherancient nation, torn from its own
bed, can now be traced ? Who can distin
guish the descendants of the Philistines, or
Ammonites, or Carthagenians, or Romans?
—They are all swallowed up like drop® in
the ocfcan. The Jews too have been cast
into the oceao of nations—an ocean agitated
with tempests; yet they have not mixed
with the waters tint have suok, JogrntWiy
to the bottom, and there have been kept
distinct like pearls in the caverns of the sea.
Though dispersed more than any people —
though crushed, and trodden down, and pres
sed by every motive of present interest to
lose their distinction in the common mass of
mankind, they have adhered to their super
stition with a pertinacity neverbetore equal
led. Through trials and sufferings enough
to shame and confound Christians, they
have adhered to a form of religion in the
absence of every religious feeling. Like
the busb of Moses, always on fire but not
consumed, they still live a distinct people
to be a monument of wrath—they still live
a distinct people to answer the great de
signs of mercy.
\ Tbeir restoration as a distinct nation to
the bosom of the Church and to the land of
their fathers, will, in its immediate and
more remote influences on the world, be
one of the most important events in tile his
tory of mankind. “It the casting away ot
them be the reconciling of the world, what
shall thp receiving of them be but life from
the dead?” By accomplishing predictions of
a mo®t improbable event, their restoration
will do more to convince mankind of the
troth of Christianity than a thousaud vol
umes of arguments. The lectures which
they will preach from Mount Zion will be
more efficacious than the sermons of half
the Gentile world. Even in this view, the
moral influence gained by ‘.heir restoration
will be cheaply purchased by ten times the
sum expended on Gentile missions up to
that day. But this is only the beginning.
They are destined to he the occasion of the
downfal of the Mahometan power, in a man
ner so signal as to convince many nations,
and to change the remnant of the Mussul
man armies into zealous instruments ot con
verting the world.
Most of these poitts are very clear<yand
•ircurastantially stated by the prophet Eze
kiel, (chap. 38 and 39) “/ the latter
days,” (I quote his words,) after the land
ot Israel shall have been always waste,
and after the final return of the Jews, rich
in “silver and gold,” in “ cattle and goods,”
-and while they are dwelling in ‘•‘•unwalled
villages ,” (all of which clearly distinguish
the event from the return from Babylon;)
at that time, “Gog,” (the Scythian,) “the
chief prince ofMeshecb &. ‘Tubal,” (that is,
the lord ofGreece) who dwells to the north ,
of Judea, aDd owns the islands of the sea /
this power, drawing in its train the very na
tions which compose the Turkish empire in
Asia and Africa, and leagued also with Per
sia, (combining thus the strength of the Mo
hometao world;) this power, urged on by
anticipations of immense spoil, will precipi
tate an innumerable army of cavalry upon
the laud of Israel. But there they shall
fall by pestilence, and by weapons turned
against each other, and by ram, and bail,
and fire from heaven, until but a sixth
THE MISSIONARY.
part” are left. And the Jews shall be em
ployed “seven months” in burying the
dead in the valley stretched out on the Med
iterranean, while the broken weapons and
carriages of the enemy will serve them for
fire-wood “seven years.” By this wonder
ful interposition, all Israel shall be finally
convinced and converted to God; “all the
men upon the face of the earth shall shake
at” his “ presenceand “ many nations”
shall he made to know that he is the Lord.
The same events, with some additional
circumstances, are noticed by other proph
ets. Zechariah* says, that all nations shall
be gathered against Jerusalem, and shall
take it, and carry half of the people into
temporary captivity; (hat God, will then
exhibit himself in sontfe extraordinary man
ner on Mount Oliver, <mo sTHTRrrm; etueuiy
with pestilence, and turn their swords
against each other; and that all who escape
shall be converted into his zealous worship
pers. Isaiaht tells us that in the day when
God shall restore Jerusalem, he shall gath
er all nations to see his glory, and shall
plead with all flesh by fire and sword, and
shall destroy many ; that some of those who
escape shall go forth as missionaries through
the countries on each side of the Mediter
ranean, and beyond the seas, to declare his
glory among the Gentiles; while others of
them shall go to the dispersed of Israel, and
bring them home over land, “upon horses
anil in chariots, and in litters, and upon
mules, and upon swift beasts;” (hat all men
shall he converted to the worship of God,
and Israel shall no more be forsaken. Dan
iel, too,| after noticing the establishment of
the Turkish dominion in the holy land,
looks forward to the time when the Turk,
alarmed by “ tidiDgs out of the east,” (res
pecting the return of the Jew®, no doubt)
“ shall go forth with great fury to destroy,”
and shall invade the holy land, and there
“shall come to his end.” He tells us that
it will be “ a time of trouble, such as never
was since there was a nation;” that the
Prince of Israel will fight for his people;
that with this conflict will terminate the
1260 years of trouble; that “many shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be in
creased,” and they shall “ turn many to
righteousness;” that after the close of the
1260 years, another period shall elapse of
30 years, (probably employed in gathering
the rest of (he Jews and the ten tribes,) and
another of forty five years, (probably taken
up in completing Ihe conversion of the
flentiles.j aod,then comes the full splendour
of the millennial day.
If then you would hasten the conversion
of the world, urge forward the restoration
of the Jews.
The close of the 1260 years terminates
the apostacy in the west, as well as that in
the east,|| and Faber has shown that the
Romish Church and the Mahometan power
will expire at the same time That course
of things in Europe which is gradually ten
ding to the catastrophe in the west, is one
amidst all its varieties Different parts of
this series will be developed in succession:
hut the first new event marked in prophe
cy, will be, I think, the restoration of the
Jews. The world are waiting for this.
Nothing can he done till it is accomplished.
The course of things must stop if it be de
layed beyond its time. And the time is
near, much nearer perhaps than we ima
gine. According to Faber it cannot be
more than forty years distant, and not much
above twenty, if the 1260 years are Chal
daick. And it may he much nearer. I know of
nothing in prophecy that would be contra
dicted by it should it come to morrow.
The motions in Europe in favour of the
Jews, indicate that the lime is fast approach
ing, The prejudices of the Jews them
selves are giving way, and an expectation
seems to be spread among them that the
time of their deliverance is at hand.
Grudge not the expense of their restora
(ion. It is the most economical course you
can take. For when they are restored to
their country and their God, you will have
missionary funds enough. A large part ot
the moveable wealth of Christendom and of
• he Turkish empire would accompany them
home. Fast property, for the most part,
they have none. They are strangers in ev
ery land. Their eyes are ever towards
their own Canaan. They are always ready
for their journey. Load your ships of Tar
shtsh, spread your sails, and hear out to sea
a richer cargo than ever floated the Atlan
tick. I hear a voice from heaven, saying,
“ Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the
ships of Tarshisb first, to bring thy sons
from far, their silver and their gold with
them, unto the name of the Lord thy God.”
And as the sacred fleet comes in through
the Mediterranean with the flight of a bird,
an eye perched on Mount Zion, descries
the “sail-broad vans” like a white cloud in
the horizon, and a voice inquires, “ who are
these that fly as a cloud and as the doves to
their windows ?Ӥ Aye, as doves to their
windows. When the poor feathered wan
derers are overtaken by the tempest, or
pursued by ravenous birds, how precious do
these refugees appear; how earnestly do
they long after the sheltering cabin. With
* Ch. 14. t Cb. 66, 15—24. $ Ch. 11, 36
—45, and Ch. 12.
|| Rev. 12, 6.
t laaiab 60, B—9. This seems to have been
lb* very picture in the Prophet’s eye.
nr J e * Dto t * ie world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. — Jesus Christ.
oral! the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.— Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1824.
far greater desire will (his “nation scatter
ed and peeled,” this nation “ meted out and
trodden down,” this nation which every
hand has plucked aud every foot has spum
ed, look forward to their own Jerusalem,
and to the land of their rost. When fleeing
from a world in arms, from hard-hearted
hate, from frowns, and injuries, and insults,
how will they look forward to the vallies
and glens ol Canaan as so many windows of
a dove, a home after all their wanderings,
a rest after all their toils, a shelter from all
their dangers.
And while they are waiting for the por
tals of Palestine to open, shall not this in
teresting people find an asylum with us 2
Let there be one spot wnc.. *hey shall re
ceive the Jiindpess due even 4® *—
x ne mjtJSTiCe and crue/ry they have
experienced from baptized nations are an
everlasting blot on the Christian world.
Although in this unbroken course of perse
cution and scorn the nominal followers of
Christ have been executing the divine sen
tence, yet, like Nebuchadnezzar, their
heart meant not so: and thi9 abuse from
the Christian world has served only to pre
judice the Jews still more against Christi
anity, and with a thicker “drop serene” to
quench “ their orbs.” Proscribed and
hunted in Europe, and Asia, and Africa,
they want, in these emds of the earth, an as
ylum, where, under kinder treatment, their
hearts may be wod to Christianity, and
where, with an unruffled mind, they may
examine its claims; where they may culti
vate the sciences, and raise up able and
learned missionaries to send to their breth
ren throughout the world. Without being
brought together into one peaceful commu
nity to learn the arl9 of life, the science of
legislation, and the maxims of political wis
dom, how are that depressed people ever
to become prepared to conduct their own
civil and political concerns, and all the in
terests of a separate nation? And where 10
all the world should this asylum be found,
but in this land of freedom, this last retreat
of liberty, known through the earth as the
asylum of the oppressed? We have giveD
a refuge to the oppressed of all other na
tions, uow at last let us open our doors to
the most oppressed of all, to those from
whom we received the records of salvation,
who have the blood of Abraham and David
in their veins, and who in all their wander
ings occupy so much of the care of heaven.
It will be an honour to our country to have
it told through the world.tha* when no other
region on eartu ivotnn retcitc mr btivictt
people of God, they found a refuge in the
tranquil shades of America. And of all
places this is the most fitted. Take them
home, imbue them with the ipirit of your
own institutions, and then senithero hack to
kindle up the light of liberty in Asia, and
to break the rayless night of despotism
which now broods over one mtire quarter
of the globe. It is what w* jwe to the sa
cred cause of liberty by whicl we ourselves
have been lifted to heaven. It is only a
reasonable tax for our birth right.
I love to trace the obscurt glances cast
at America from the Mount of Vision, as
though from a consciousnessof the future
relationship between this undscovered land
and Asia. Thus David: “If l take the
wings of the morning and dvell in the ut
termost parts of the west.” Thus Mala
chi: “ From the rising of tbi sun even unto
the going down of the same, my name shall
be great among the Gentiles, and in every
place incense shall beofferedunto my name,
and a pure offering.” And since the He
brews gave the name of islabds to all coun
tries over sea, perhaps I add the words
already quoted from Isaiah: “ Surely the
.isles shall wait forme;” that is, to bring my
family home. Let America from her wes- 1
tern hills reflect back the morniDg light 1
which she received from Asia, and thus ex !
plain why the eyes of eastern seers went
before Columbus to this distant land.
Doubtless the projected establishment J
ought to be regulated witk extreme cau- (
lion, and watched over with unceasing vi
gilance. It is not, as its eieraies would rep
resent, to pamper indolence and hypocrisy. |
It ought soon to be made to support itself, (
except so far as respects the education of .
missionaries, aod perhaps, while the colo
ny is small, the partial maintenance of a
minister. The expense of the pasiage ‘
from Europe should be provided for there.
The establishment will not long be watted
for the Jews; but while it is wanted, it will 1
probably’ do good enough to out-weigh a J
million times the value of the property,and j
afterwards it may be sold to transport the 1
colonists to Palestine, or be disposed of in j
aid of some other charity.
In this artless manner I have spread the ‘
case before you. It is enough that it etaods
forth in its own native form. It needs not j
the aid of eloquence. 1 will make but one 1
appeal; if ever you heard of the self-deni- ‘
als and prayers of Abraham for you—if ev
er you were refreshed by the warbling* of 1
David’s harp—if ever the labours of an Isa- 1
iah for the Gentile Church, came into mind, !
—if ever the toils and sufferings of Peter,
and Paul, and John, or the sorrows of Jesus
of Nazareth ; by the prayers of Abraham,
by the melodies of David, by the toils of
apostles, and by the sufferings of Christ,)
beseech you, have compassion on theirl
brethren.
HON. DE WITT CLINTON’S ADDRESS
To the Presbyterian Education Society , .May,
13, 1824.
Inconsequence of the resignation of the
worthy and respectable President of this
Institution,! have been honoured with an in
vitation to act in bis place. And in acced
ing to this request, I have felt all the res
ponsibility attached to the occasion, and all
the solicitude connected with the important
duties which we are assembled to per
form.
It is certainly a work of supererogation
to ex|>atiateon the high interests which are
blended with the prosperity of this institu
lion. The solemnities of the Jewish Ritu
al have given way to the mild adtninistra
—i , esU-liW*
ot the Cross has dcstruyeu tjte sanguinary
prescriptions of the heathen mythology.
With this change of the character of reli
gion, the offices and functions of its minis
ters havereceived a correspondent improve
ment ; and instead of the Priest, presenting
victims at the altar to propritiale the fabul
ous deities of superstition, the Christian di
vine offers up prayers to the Almighty Fath
er of the Universe, expounds the revela
tions of heaven, administers the solemn or
dinances of religion, and exerts all the pow
ers of his mind to inculcate the observance
of morality.
The experience of mankind evinces that
religion is essential to cement society and
to promote good government: and in refer
ence to a future state, it determines our
destinies forever. The influence of relig
ion must be co-extensive with the number
and the character or its ministers.—An able
and pious clergy will produce a moral and
religious people. And in proportion to a
deficiency in the number, and a failure in
the qualifications of the Ministers, in that
ratio will the morals of the people be affect
ed and the interests of the community im
paired.
In this State, the functionaries of religion
are constitutionally interdicted from office,
and inmost of the states they are practical
ly proscribed. And it is well known that
the emoluments of Ihe sacerdotal office fur
nisb no allurements to cupidity. The sons
of the great and the powerful, of the opu
lent and the ambitious, will seek the road
to civil distinction or wealth through other
professions; and it thus unfortunately hap
pens that the most able to bestow the bles
sings of education on their children, are not
most. ttiUixur iha! lhfLV rtlOU^O
themselves to the ministratious of religion.
This defect must be spplied, this evil must
be remedied by gratuitous education. And
with this view, institutions like the present,
which cherish merit without any regard to
the factitious distinctions of society; which
rescue poverty from privation, and elevate
humility above depression, and which ap
preciate talent and virtue in the abstract
without any connexion with the endowments
of fortune or political distinction, are calcu
lated to enlist in (he cause of religion, men
of gigantick minds and wonderful energy.
In the dark abodes of poverty, and in Ihe
sequestered shades of obscurity, genius of
tea exhibits its powers, and the virtues of
a saint and a martyr are frequently cherish
ed with holy enthusiasm. Cultivation and
patronage must unite in drawing forth these
latent and dormant energies, aod io enlisting
them in the service of mankind.
It is in vain to contend that the functions
of a Christian Minister can be successfully
performed without education. The apos
tles of Christ were, at first, meu without
the benefits of literature, but they were
armed with (be gift of tongues, the power
of miracles, and visitations of the Holy
Ghost. But besides these preternatural
endowments, all the learning and philoso
phy of the ancients were united in St. Paul,
who was called into the Christian church by
a miraculous interposition. His writings
display the most powerful talent, and he
has even condescended to refer to some of
the great classical authors of antiquity.
His eloquence was of Deir.osthenian ener
gy; and to his intellectual cultivation must
be ascribed, to a certain extent, the va-t
consequences that resulted from his labours
in the cause of Christianity.
An able divine ought to understand the
original languages in which the iuspired
writers promulgated our religion. And it
would be well if he extended his acquisi
tions to the other radical languages of the
eastern hemisphere. His acquaintance with
literature and science ought to he extensive
and profaund : and he should be deeply
read in moral philosophy, metaphysicks,
and theology. He should also be master •
of all the points of polemick discussion, and j
be prepared not only to defend Christianity ]
against the assults of scepticism and infidel j
ity, but to vindicate his particular creed ,
against the objections of opposing sects. <
In order to attain this intellectual eminence, |
so becoming an ambassador of heaven and j
a minister of the Most High God, be roust i
pass through all the Seminaries of Educa
tion from the rudimental school to the :
university, and devote year after year to
tbi attainment of pulpit eloquence, and the ,
requisition of theological knowledge.
How are these great blessings to be ac
quired ? By the union of the friends ofrelig
ion in the eduoation of a Christian ministry
[Price $3 50 per atm.
—by inducing our youth to devote them
selves to the altars ot Goo—aod by dispen
sing the benefits of gratuitous instruction
to the favorites of piety and geius, where
ever to be found. And let it be understood
that the interests of good government as
well as of religion, are seriously affected by
the want of religious instructors. Thou
sands of places are now destitute of Christian
ministers: and the evils are fell not only in
religious privations, but in the prevalence
of practices incompatible with the publick
welfare. Wherever a good and able divine
is settled, he will acquire the love, the sen
fideoce, and the respect of fyi.s congregation.
His influence will be felt in all their con
duct, and a commerce of benefit and grati
tude will he established, which will reach
ovnbcS iWf IMA-inv .-.tVjcr, rtUCJ LX
ercise the most powerful control over the
whole field of human action.
The aspect of the world is replete with
wonderful indications. Within the memo
ry and observation of many of us, the most
extraordinary events, from the American
revolution to the present period, have oc
curred. Anew power, unknown to the
ancients, has risen up to direct the energies
and to superintend the destinies of mankind.
Its authority is unlimited, its progress irre
sistible, and its force irrepressible. It de
rives its existence from the lights of Chris
lianity, the invention of printing, and the
diffusion of education. It governs the mon
arch on the throne as well as the peasant
in the cottage. Need I say—the power
of publick opinion—which influences all the
ramifications of society
This power, in order to be beneficial,
ought to DtTpredicated on just ana proper
grounds. It ought to be directed by piety
ami knowledge.—M”nitorial education,Sun
day schools, and Bible societies, are the
great levers which must raise publick opin
ion to its proper elevathn ; and when rein
forced and impelled into activity, by he
ministrations of a virtuous ar.d enlightened
clergy, then the cause of liberty, order, k
good government, will be established on a
firm basis, and the prospects of blessedness
in another and a better world, will brigh
ten the gloom of seclusion, alleviate the
burden of affliction, and 9olac£ the hour of
death,
Such aro the objects aod such the ten
dencies of this institution; and recommend
ed as it is by all the considerations, which
ought to operate on the man, the patriot,
and the Christian, I fee! happy on this occa
sion iu offer uiy liumXrte mtie for its sop port,
and to raise my feeble voice in its favour-
American Bible Society.
From the New York Daily Advertiser of May 14.
Yesterday the American Bible Society
celebrated their Bth anniversary in this city.
Off Wednesday afternoon the Board of Man
agers held an adjourned meeting at the So
ciety’s House for the purpose of receiviog
Delegates from Auxiliary Societies, and of
meeting with the Members of the Board k
officers of the Society not resident in this
city. This meeting was numerously at
tended, and the managers had the satisfac
tion of meeting with many sincere and ac
tive friends of the institution from different
parts of the United States.
On Thursday the Board in their
room in Nassau street, at 9 o’clock in the
morning, and proceeded from thence to Ihe
City Hotel in Broadway, where the presi
ding Vice President, Gen. Matthew Clark
son, took the chair, and the meeting was
opened, precisely at 10 o’clock. The ex
ercises commenced by the reading of the
65th of Isaiah, by the Rev. John Armstrong,
late Chaplain of the British settlement at
Honduras.
The venerable President of the Society,
the Hon. John Jav, being unable fro;n age
and infirmity to be present, an address pre
pared by the Rev. James Milnor, D. D.
Rector of St. George’s church in this city,
and the Society’s Secretary, for foreign
correspondence.
Letters from the Hon. Bushrod Washing
ton, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Kirkpat
rick, Charles Goldsborougb, William Phil
ips, David L. Morrill, F/ancis S. Key, Jo
seph and Smith Thompsr and, Vice-Presidents
of the Society, apologizing for their ab
sence at the anniversary, were then read ;
—after which William Woolsey, Esq.
Treasurer of the Society, exhibited hi 9 an
ual report of the state of the treasury. By
ibis document it appears, the receipts for
the Btb year, have been g42,41G 95.
There have been printed during the Bth
year, at the Society’s Depository io this ci
ty, 76,875 Bibles and Testaments ; —7OO
Bibles and Testaments, in different langua
ges, have been received as donations from
the British and Foreign Bible Society, and
2000 have been printed with stereotype
plates belonging to Ihe Society at Lexing
iogtoo in Kentucky—making a total of
Four Hundred and Three Thousand, Three
Hundred and Fiftv Two Bibles aod Testa
ments, or parts of the latter, printed from
the stereotype plates of the Society, or oth
erwise obtained for circulation, during the
first eight years of the Society’s existence.
There have been issued from the Depos
itory of the society, during the past year,
sixty thousand, four hundred and thirty (nitx